Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-04-02
MexIc an Politics

But the city is not only the capital, it is the center oi sll ihe political lie oI the republic. For in all outward forms this IS a federal republic. The city and its envir0us forms the federal district In the state of Mexico. Besides this state there are twenly-sIX other states, each Nith its governor and local legislature its system of schools. The federal con stiiution IS model one: there i- all tht machinsTy of republic government, two elected Houses, President populGriy chosen for tesm of six years. who Is ineiIgibl= again until term has inter yenei. But the President is in fact elected by agreement among knot Ci lenders, and tle office is a matter of ar engagement, bGrgained for usually long time in the future. Every governor Ot 6 state iE practically dictated by this ilniH at the capital; and every officer. even Co mayors Of cities, is so chosen. It 10 She most purely personal government m the world. Whatever elective forms are gone through with, this is the fact. When the first term Of Disz expired, Gonzales came;in by arrangement, when the latter retired, It WAS to a governOrship. Diaz has predcmInsnce of Indian blood, Gonzales of Spanish.
 Iu his first term DIaz took an enlight- ened view of the needs of Mexico and its external relations. He invited capital snd promnted railways by liberal subsid- ies. The railways were built; the subsi- dies have not been paid. The country was infested with brigRnds. These bri. gands were not Indians; but of the mix cd Spanish race who had possessions, and took to the highways only on occRs- ion, or when the country was politically disturbed. Vigorous efforts were made to suppress this by the government. Gonzales had the reputation of being the head of these quHsI-brigRnds. When be came into power brigandage was still more effectively suppressed. People say that his method was to put all the brig ands in office, make them governors, ma yors. and high district officials. where they could make more than by intercept ing caravans, stopping dillgences, and carving off owners ot hsciendss, And il IS universally believed m Mexico that Gonzales, in his term of four yesrs, sav- ed out of his salary between twelve and eighteen millions of dollars, which IS now UeIl invested. These leaders are Hstute diplomstists, as wary supple and, subtle as the Turks. Whoever makes treaty with them is likely to be confused by tbe result. Whoever invests money n Mexico, either ID public works or n pri- vate enterprise, does so at his FISK Any basis of confidence IS wanting ID business. The MeXIcans do not tru@t esch other. They always seem surpris- ed when a foreigner does ss he said ne would do. The moral condition IS some thing lise that of Egyu'. The atmos- pbere of Egypt is one of universal lylnR. Wa who are accustomed Co do business on universal faiih-,be presumption oe- ing that man Is honest until the contra rv is proved-cannot understand so- cisl state where the contrary IS the ss- sumption,
 One csn readily grant to Diaz pairi- ot,c intentions. and the desire to nave Mexico take an honorable place m the world: but justlce is not had priceless ID courts-the officials gre all serving tDeir own interests, and official corruption IS nniyersal And yet travel Is now sa1e' nubIic order is maintained, and there is marked progress in education. oull' whatever the government is, there IS no public. no public opinion. no general comprehension of political action, no really representative government or re- nresentive election; there are few news, papers. the people are not informed, anu tba mass of them are indifferent SO long as tbey are personally not disturbed. ID onIv one case (the action of the congress ;a regard to the English deb'-acnon promoted by determined dem4ns'ist.ion stara of the students of the eity nss t.he been sny sign of the independence oL .ns z Legislature. Mexico remains ID shs.a, ,..;cai n personsl government with no Po4i'1os' t's bublic. I am making no sweeping ueo Iaration as to the character or the nUn yrel population; 1t hss its good poInts' These will appear ss We travel tsT -,. tnet Charles Dudley Warner, In hsrPer Magazine for April.